Morocco arrests four IS suspects

Rabat, Aug 17 (IANS) Four persons suspected of having links with the Islamic State (IS) have been arrested in Morocco, the country’s Interior Ministry said.

“They planned dangerous terrorist projects to undermine security and stability of the North African kingdom,” said a statement on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The suspects, who were operating in the cities of Casablanca and Kenitra, some 36 km away from the capital, pledged allegiance to the so-called emir of the IS group.

Preliminary investigations showed that terror attacks against key sites in the Moroccan economic capital Casablanca were planned, the statement said.

The suspects will be brought to justice after the completion of the probe, which is led under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor’s office.

Morocco is facing a growing threat from the IS as 159 terrorist cells in the country were dismantled, which had links to terrorist groups that are active in Iraq and Syria, including the IS, said the Interior Ministry.